NVS Scottish Branch Championships

Well that's me got my three entries sorted for the Scottish Branch show at Dundee over the next three days.  I have never been to a top class show never mid shown at one so I'm very nervous. I have entered three classes.
1) Collection of any three veg from an exhibitor who has never won a ticket at any NVS National or branch show.  As you can see I have a pea pod, a potato and a stump carrot.  (Show perfection, NVS Sherine & Sweet candle.)

2) Onions from set. ( Stur BC 20)

3) Onions less than 250 gms ( Globo)

To be honest if I get any sort of ticket I will be delighted, however it is more so that I can get a feel for the bigger shows and see where I'm at in this learning curve.

Results from Lhanbryde Show

On Saturday it was Lhanbryde Show.  This was the first show I entered some four years ago although it is 20 odd miles from me I like to support it.  However as I have already posted due to work etc I have not paid enough attention to my veg this year and I have not grown much quality veg this year. As I had a cup to return I felt that I should make an effort to give the show an entry.  As I was playing rugby on Saturday I asked the Show manager to bench a plate of onions from set and a plate under 100 gms.  When I went to pick my onions up on Sunday imagine my surprise when I had secured a first for the sets and a second for the 100 gms onions.  I also won the onion cup, Best exhibit in fruit & Veg and runner up to Best in Show.  Absolutely shocked, and delighted.

First Experience of Judging

A few weeks ago my good friend Dave Mercer from Tain called me at work and asked what I was doing on the 17th of August. I was out GPS surveying a large hill paddock at the time and without thinking said"nothing much as far as I know".  Great said Dave I'll put you down to judge the veg at the Tain show that Saturday.

Well the 17th arrived and I duly travelled the 60 miles up to Tain.  I was some what nervous as this was going to be my first attempt at judging and all the little comments I'd heard at show over the last 4 year were flooding back to me.

As with all small village shows there was quite a variation in the quality in some classes, however given the type of growing season we have had there was a number of good quality entries.

After 2 hrs I had come to the conclusion of my judging and a fine set of large onions were awarded the best veg exhibit.

I stayed on after the judging and had a number of interesting conversations with the exhibitors and from what I could tell no one was too put out by my decisions.  In fact I was asked if I was available to judge two show up that way next year.  There are two ways to look at this, either they thought I had made a reasonable job or they are really hard up for judges!!!!

Anyway I found it fairly enjoyable and will probably attempt some more in the future.    

Black Isle Show results

Sorry I've not been on the blog for a while, due to work commitments.  This has had a detrimental effect on my veg with my Leeks all going to seed and my onions not making much more than 13 inch.  That said I had 7 entries at Black Isle where I got 4 firsts and 2 seconds. 1St:- Peas,Stump Carrots,Beetroot & Salad Trug. 2nds for my onions from set and Parsley.  I'm pleased with these results.

Flowers, Eggs & Veg

Its been a long time since I last up dated my blog, mainly due to work pressures and the cold growing season wehave had up here.  That along with a week when we thought that the Sahara Desert had suddenly come to Morayshire its been fairly trying.  On the up side We now have a nice display of spring bulbs and Primulas in the sheltered part of the garden and Mrs M is delighted.

 

 

I had left a couple of bags off Silva Sand out on our stone seat at the front of the house.  They were particularly wet when I picked them up from the garden center and as the seat gets a lot of sun I thought it would help them dry out.  I went to move them on Sunday and a little birf had set up home where the bag had folded over the stone back of the seat.  Bags are now back in place and I'm looking forward to the eggs hatching.

Here is my Star Burst Celery I'm happy with the 15 plants I have. As you can see they are about 14 in high and growing strongly.  They get watered night and morning and have had one spray of Calciunm Nitrate.  I was speaking to an established grower at the weekend and he indicated that provided I keep them as damp as I am there is no need to use Calcium Nitrate at the moment.  I will be potting int 2 ltr pots this week.

Here are my large onions I think I have kept them in these pots a wee bit too long.  This is mainly because I over watered them in the pot size below this and a number of outer leaves died off.  However the best will be potted into final tubs this week and into the other greenhouse.  I am trying some in 25 ltrs pots and some in 10 ltr pots to see if there is much difference.

 And Finally my potatoes in bags I have used a new mix of 50% Peat & 50% Wool & Bracken Compost to this I have added Nutrimate and potato fertiliser.  I have also for the first time trenched my bags in about 4 inches and added potato fert to the bottom of the trench.  Here's hoping that this will be sucessful.  I am growing Amour.Blue Belle,Kestral & Maxine for coloured classes and Harmony & Sherine for the white classes.  The hope is I will have some good enough for the Scottish Branch NVS show at Dundee in September. I will have a total of 120 bags in by the end of this week.  

I also have my stumps in but they are not doing great, I have Caullies sown (2 lots) and have started some peas off for a few early local shows. 

Onions.Leeks & Celery

Well after watching the rugby yesterday I was more than ready to spend the afternoon in the greenhouse today sorting out my onions, leeks  and celery. I've grown Starburst this year and have 24 plants potted into cells and growing nicely.

Here are my large onions they have about 6 true leaves and vary from 22 to 26 inch long.  I have them in 1 ltr pots and still under lights giving them 12 hrs of light per day.  

Here are my second batch of onions that Helen Vincent sent me up in the post.  They have settled in well now and are growing on strongly.  I was delighted with these onions last year as the had a lovely shape to them so here's hoping they grow the same this year.   

This is my first batch of leeks which I received also from Helen.  I have them in 9 inch collars and as you can see they are stretching away nicely. At least 7 inch to the button and at least 2 inch girth.  

 My second batch of leeks also have 9 inch collars and are about 6.5 inches to the button and probably 1.5 inches round (These were from Alistair Gray)

My third batch have 7 inch collars and are about 6 inch to the button and also about 1.5 inch round.  These I got from David Metcalfe the breeder of the Improved Pendle leek. 

The leeks are also still under lights and I am trying to wnsure that the greenhouse does not fall below 10 degrees at any time.

North Regional Bowl Champions

What a Saturday I had.  Played the full 80 mins in the North Regional Bowl Final for Kinloss Eagles against Moray Rugby Football Club.  It was a great game and we were fortunate enough to come out on top.  This puts us into the National Bowl Semi-finals and only one game away from playing at Murryfield. Such a happy chappie.